Heel building method and device therefor



y 1951 G. H. THOMPSON 2,983,933

HEEL BUILDING METHOD AND DEVICE THEREFOR Filed Dec. 11, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 VENTOR.

May 16, 1961 G. H. THOMPSON HEEL BUILDING METHOD AND DEVICE THEREFOR Filed Dec. 11, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 16, 1961 G. H. THOMPSON 2,983,933

HEEL BUILDING METHOD AND DEVICE THEREFOR Filed Dec. 11, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 v A 45 l INVENTOR- ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent HEEL BUILDING METHOD AND DEVICE THEREFOR Gordon H. Thompson, 104 E. Lowell St., Pontiac, Ill.

Filed Dec. 11, 1958, Ser. No. 779,786

3 Claims. (CI. 12-50) This invention relates to a heel building method and device therefor, and is more particularly concerned with the building of that class of heels characterized by a plurality of lifts or flat elements.

In the production of heels for shoes, it has long been the practice to assemble a plurality of lifts in face-to-face, superposed relation. These lifts are each equipped with a central perforation and a nail is inserted through the aligned perforations so that the nail, in effect, secures the various lifts together. A host'of problems have plagued those in this field because of the need for using what amounts to a vertically-extending nail in each heel. At the outset, the possibility of injury to the wearer must be appreciated. But further than that, there is the difficulty in manufacture occasioned because of the nail. The nail itself represents a slight expenditure of money but a much greater expenditure of effort in getting the nail and assembled lifts in proper relation. Here, it is to be appreciated that the lifts are originally provided one size larger than they will be when the heel is finally shaped. I Also, the lifts, being cut from leather or leatherlike material, are not beveled along their edges, so that the heel building operation results in a structure wherein the heels are aligned along the forward side but along the rear side are staggered. It has been recognized that it is diflicult enough to arrange the lifts in the proper staggered relation, but this problem is complicated considerably more when a nail must be extended through the various lifts. The complexity of the problem can be recognized from the fact that in some womens heels the number of lifts employed may reach as high as eleven.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a method and device for building heels which eliminates the need for the objectionable nail. Another object is to provide a method and device for constructing heels in which the various lifts making up the heels are secured together only by an adhesive so that an imperforate lift can be employed. Still another object is to provide a method and device for building heels which provides a heel of superior strength, yet which involves only a significantly short time for assembly, as contrasted to the previously employed techniques and devicm. Yet another object is to provide a method and device for building nailless heels in which lifts are adhesively bonded together by subjecting them to a relatively high pres- 'sure for a relatively short period of time, the force applied to the heels being compressive in nature and sufficient to cause the adhesive to interlock adjacent lifts but being insuificient to stress the lifts beyond their compressive elastic limit. Other objects and advantages of this invention can be seen as this specification proceeds.

This invention, is an illustrative embodiment, will be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partially broken away, of a device for constructing heels;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; r r

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 44 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the means for rotating the work table portion of the device whichis seen in plan in Fig. 2.

Briefly, the invention here contemplates the adhesive union of a plurality of lifts assembled in face-to-face, superposed relation through the application of a compressive force sufficient to induce flow of adhesive layers interposed between adjacent lifts. The flow of the adhesive is into the leather-like material making up the lifts and serves to bond them together. The compressive force is inadequate to apply a permanent set to the lifts, being below the compressive elastic limit of the lift material.

In this connection, it is believed that first a reference to- Fig. 4 of the drawing will be helpful in understanding the operation contemplated in the invention.

In Fig. 4, the numeral 10 designates generally 'a heel; In the illustration given, the heel'lO includes apluralityof lifts 11, which are assembled in face to-face, su'perposed relation. Several of the lifts 11, such as are designated by the numeral 11a, are tapered in thickness','the reduced thickness being at the forward portion 'so' as tov provide a heel of conventional shape for a Womans shoe. The lifts may be constructed of various materials which are well known for this purpose such as leather, compressed leather fibers, and other leather-like materials. Interposed as at 12 between each lift is a thin layer of an adhesive material. The invention contemplates the use of any of the currently employed heel-lift adhesives, which may be either quick-drying or slow-drying glues, pastes, etc.

In the usual operation, the adhesive 12 is provided by coating both sides of one lift with an adhesive layer, as, for example, in Fig. 4, the lift designated 13. The. lifts 11 immediately adjacent the adhesive-coated lift13. are" provided without adhesive coats or layers 12, but this may be varied so that either face or both faces of all of the lifts may be adhesively coated as desired.

The lifts assembled to form the heel 10 are then placed. within a form designated generally by the numeral 14,, which serves to support the heels in their assembled relation. This form 14 can be best seen in what amounts to a perspective view in the lower left-hand corner of Fig. l. The form 14 is seen also in Figs. 3 and 4 and is so designated. The form 14 includes a vertically-extending plate 15 which may be secured to the upper surface of a work table 16 by means of bolts 17. The wall provides an abutment against which the forward and aligned straight sides of the various lifts abut. I T

As pointed out previously, the lifts are usually cut from leather material, usually provided in sheet form,- with the cut being transverse to the face of the sheet. This produces vertical sides on the lifts which subsequently must be beveled. With that operation, however, this invention is not concerned. With the lifts 11 of the character just described, the resultant assembled heel 10 will have a serrated profile along the sides and rear, as can be readily appreciated from a consideration of Figs. 3 and 4. TO maintain the assembled lifts in their proper relation, side supports 18 are provided. These side supports 18 (best seen in Fig. 3) include a plurality of plates 19 which, like the lifts 11, are arranged in face-to-face, superposed relation and are like the lifts in thickness, so that they serve to support the assembled lifts 11 against lateral displacement. A bracket 20 of generally an inverted U shape.

(seen in perspective view in Fig. ,1) surrounds and, over 20, the upper wall being designated by the numeral 21, is equipped with a threaded aperture in which a retaining bolt 22 is received. By tightening the bolt 22, the various plates 19 are held in a predetermined relation for the receipt of the various lifts. The operator wo'rks adjacent a table in which the various lifts are provided and selects a series of graduated sized lifts in order to make up the heel. Each lift in turn- (some of which may be adhesively coated, as indicated above) are inserted sequentially into the form provided by the front wall 15 and the staggered-surface side walls provided by the supports 18.

After an assembly has been provided, the heel is subjected to a compressive force of the order of about 400-700 pounds for a period of about one minute. This is in decided contrast to the operation previously performed on heels equipped with nails, in which a force of the order of 50 lbs. or so was exerted for a period of about an hour or so. In the prior art practice, if the nail were omitted, the union between lifts was inadequate to withstand anything more than the slightest stress. Again, in contrast to this, the procedure just described provides a heel of superior strength and without a nail, as can be inferred from the fact that a heel constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention and without a nail, can be thrown against a rigid wall with all the force possible, and without any separation of the various lifts. Further, in testing heels constructed according to the teachings of the invention and through the application of tensile stresses, it has been found that the lifts part preferentially intermediate their outer surfaces rather than at the interface between adjacent lifts. Although the mechanism by which the invention provides these advantageous results is imperfectly understood, it is believed that the superior heels are provided because the lifts are stressed sufiiciently so as to induce flow of the adhesive partway into the lifts and especially around the peripheries thereof. The quick but short application of a substantially higher pressure than that previously employed serves to confine the adhesive against loss laterally from between adjacent lifts, and serves to cause the adhesive to penetrate the lifts and provide the unrupturable anchor just described.

Again turning to Fig. 4, the compressive force is applied in the illustration given by means of a pressure pad 23 pivotally connected as at 24 to a piston rod 25. Downward movement of the piston rod 25 brings about the slight compression referred to, inasmuch as the lower face of the heel 10 is supported by the work table 16.

In the specific illustration given, the wall is provided in L-shaped form, with one leg of the E being arranged horizontally and abutting the upper surface of the work table 16 so that this leg (designated 15a in Fig. 4) is actually interposed between the lower surface of the heel and the work table 16. However, those skilled in the art may provide other arrangements of heel-supporting frames in order to support the assembled heel 10 against lateral displacement during the pressing operation.

Turning now to Fig. l of the drawing, a specific machine for achieving the operation just described is seen. In Fig. l, the numeral 26 designates a supporting frame or base for the mechanism which may be equipped with a plurality of downwardly-extending legs 27. Although not shown, the legs may be equipped with casters or other means for permitting the entire mechanism to be conveniently transported from place to place within a heel-building factory. Here, it is to be appreciated that compactness of size of the device is very desirable inasmuch as the heel operation generally results in a small number of heels of any given size or style. It is not unusual for a given run of womens heels to number only a few hundred, or less. Thus, a complex machine set up for large-scale, quantity production of a given size heel would be economically unfeasible. Adaptability and flexibility must be the keynote in an operation such as this. In the illustration given, a machine constructed for this operation may have an overall diameter (measured horizontally) of only about two feet or so.

The base 26 includes an upper surface 28 which is flat and horizontally disposed and provides a platform upon which the remaining superstructure of the device can rotate. Preferably, the platform-providing base 26 is circular in nature so as to present no sharp protuberances for the operator to injure himself upon. Centrally located on the base 26 is a thrust bearing 29 rigidly secured to the base 26 and which rotatably supports a verticallyextending standard 30. It is this standard or column member 30 which supports the heel-making mechanism for movement of the various heel supports 14 through a work station.

Rigidly connected to the standard 30 is the work table 16 previously referred to in connection with Fig. 4. This work table is essentially a disc or circular in outline, and may be equipped at its periphery with a plurality of rollers for support of the work table 16 relative to the upper surface 28 of the base 26. In the illustration given, the rollers 32 are supported in brackets 33 extending upwardly from the top surface 28 of the base 26, as can be best appreciated from a consideration of Fig. l.

The vertically-extending side wall of the work table 16 is notched as 34 (best seen in Fig. 2), which provides means for rotating the work table 16 in a step fashion. Cooperating with the notches 34 is a pressure fluid cylinder 35 (seen only in Fig. 2) equipped with the usual piston rod 36. The piston rod 36 in turn is equipped with a pivoted dog 37 which is resiliently urged against the side wall of the work table 16. The various positions of the dog 37 are illustrated in Fig. 2, with the most extended position of the piston rod 36 being shown in broken line. It is contemplated that the work table will make a complete rotation in about one minute, this requiring the cylinder 35' to completely reciprocate six times during this period and thereby place each heel support 14 in the loading station designated by the numeral 14 and which is seen at the extreme bottom of Fig. 2.

Mounted on standard 30 adjacent the upper end thereof are a plurality of air cylinders 38. Each air cylinder is equipped with a control valve 39 serving to selectively apply air pressure to the cylinder 38 or vent air from it. Pressurized air is supplied to each control valve 39 through a conduit 40 and venting is achieved through a conduit 41 associated with each control valve 39, all of which can be seen in Fig. l. Pressurized air is delivered to the rotatably mounted standard 30 through a line 42 equipped with a rotary seal member 42a. Each valve 39 may be equipped with a control line 41a (see Fig. 2) which is effective to position the valve element provided interiorly of the valve (not shown) upon a signal from the machine operator.

Each cylinder 38 is equipped with the usual piston (not shown), which in turn supports for vertical movement a piston rod 43. The outer end of the piston rod 43 is rigidly secured to a guide block 43a which is guided for vertical movement in guides 44, the guides 44 being best seen in Fig. 2.

Each guide block 43a rigidly supports a rod 25 previously referred to, which is eflfective to deliver a compressive force against a heel 10, this being the operation depicted at the extreme lower right of Fig. 1.

In the operation of the device, the operator assembles the requisite number of lifts into the support form 14, which has previously been adjusted and locked in place by a mechanic. It is to be appreciated that where heels of a different character are to be built, a rapid readjustment of the machine can be performed. All the mechanic need do is to employ the model heel as a standard in adjusting the twelve side forms 18. When the lifts are introduced into the forms 14 as just indicated, the work table 16- is rotated 60' in the illustration given and pressurized air is supplied to the cylinder 38 shown in the work position designated 14b in Fig. 2. This serves to compress the heel 10, and the compressive force is continued to be exerted until shortly before the heel being worked on reaches the position designated 140 in Fig. 2. In this position, the heel is ejected so as to ready the form 14 for the subsequent loading operation.

Ejection of a completed heel is readily achieved through the structure seen in Figs. 1 and 4 and which includes a post 45 slidingly mounted in an aperture 46 in the work table 16. The post 45, at its lower end, is equipped with a wheel or roller 47, which normally rolls against the top surface 28 of the base 26. The platformproviding base 26 is equipped with a cam surface 48 (seen only in the extreme lower left-hand portion of Fig. 1) which is interposed in the path of circular travel of the wheel 47. As the Wheel 47 engages this cam surface 48, the post 45 is caused to rise in its mounting in work table 16 and thereby elevate the heel 10 for ready removal.

During the operation just described, the heel support forms 14, especially the side support forms 18, are effective to prevent any substantial compressive deformation of the lifts along their sides. The lifts are maintained in the desired relation, with the result that the adhesive penetrates adjacent lifts. Excellent results have been obtained in the construction of heels when the compressive force employed is of the order of about 500 lbs.

While, in the foregoing specification, I have set forth an embodiment of the invention in considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating the invention, it will be understood that those skilled in the art may perceive many variations in those details without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a device for building heels, a base providing a horizontally-disposed platform, a bearing centrally mounted on said platform and rotatably supporting a vertical standard, said standard being rotatable on said hearing about its axis, a generally circular table rigidly mounted on said standard above said platform and a plurality of reciprocating pressure-exerting units rigidly secured to said standard to apply a vertical pressure toward said table, a plurality of hollow heel-supporting frames on said table, one for each of said units, a plurality of casters on said table supporting the peripheral portion above said platform, and means for rotating said table in equal arcuate increments.

2. In a heel building device, a base equipped with a flat, horizontally-disposed, circular platform, a frame sup ported on said platform for rotation about a vertical axis through the center of said platform, said frame rigidly supporting a plurality of equally-spaced fluid-operated cylinder and piston rod units, the piston rods thereof extending downwardly toward said platform, a work table rigidly supported on said frame between said piston rods and said platform, said work table being equipped with a plurality of heel holders, one for each of said units, each of said heel holders including a vertical Wall secured at the said work table and presenting a generally flat side outwardly, a pair of adjustable side walls in each of said heel holders adapted to support staggered heel lifts in predetermined relation, an opening through said work table within the area defined by said vertical and side walls, a post in said opening, a cam on said platform adapted to engage successive posts to raise the same and eject the heel from the mounting in said heel holder, a plurality of casters perimetrically equally spaced on said work table and stabilizing the work table during rotation thereof, the periphery of said Work table being equipped with a plurality of equally-spaced notches, and fluid pressure cylinder means associated with said base and engageable successively with said notches for rotating said frame.

3. In a device for building heels, a base providing a horizontally-disposed platform, a bearing centrally mounted on said platform and rotatably supporting a vertical standard, said standard being rotatable on said hearing about its axis, a generally circular table rigidly mounted on said standard above said platform and a plurality of reciprocating pressure-exerting units rigidly secured to said standard to apply a vertical pressure of about 500 pounds toward said table, a plurality of hollow heel-supporting'frames on said table, one for each of said units, caster means interposed between said platform and table for supporting the table peripheral portion during rotation thereof relative to said platform, means for rotating said table in equal arcuate increments, and means for sequentially releasing the pressure of said units and ejecting the heel from the frame associated with the pressurereleased unit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,223,728 Page Apr. 24, 1917 2,336,739 McMahon et al. Dec. 14, 1943 2,357,813 Eich et a1 Sept. 12, 1944 2,664,563 Sydow Jan. 5, 1954 2,787,799 Marasco Apr. 9, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,015,627 France Apr. 6, 1952 

